For many, the New Year is about renewing willpower in order to tackle resolutions. But for Olympians, willpower is a necessity year-round. While others are struggling to make it to the gym at least once or twice a week, Olympians like lightweight rower Kristin Hedstrom rarely see a day away from their workout.

Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed budget offers California’s school districts some good fiscal news in the form of higher per-student funding and payment of billions of dollars of prior-years’ IOUs. But it also offers the possibility of higher pension costs for school and community college districts as soon as 2015.

Alameda’s Board of Education rode herd on a contentious discussion Tuesday about space for Alameda Unified’s charter schools that exposed the rising tensions over space that are being driven by the rising popularity of the Island’s charter schools and the district’s efforts to increase and improve school options. The central drama concerned district staff’s proposal to move the Alameda Community Learning Center for the second time in two years, a move that brought dozens of parents, staff and students from the middle school charter out in protest.

The Alameda Police Department is taking fresh steps toward implementing new technology that scans thousands of license plates in search of stolen cars and crime suspects. The department has issued a draft policy for use of automated license plate readers they hope to buy and is hosting a public forum to discuss their plans, at 6:30 p.m. February 3 in the Main Library, 1550 Oak Street.

Candidates for an array of local races are beginning to stake their claims for a place on the November ballot. A handful of candidates have formally signaled their intention to run, while others have kicked off fundraising efforts for to-be-announced campaigns.

Lola’s Chicken Shack is open for business. Our intrepid food writer, Denise Shelton, has a review.

News in brief(er): A memorial service has been planned for a local dance instructor who died on January 9 … and BART’s largest union okayed a contract Monday, ending months of labor strife between the rail agency and its workers.